Winter Prep for Cockerels

[StrawberryMoon]

Hello! I know there have been other posts about prepping for winter, but I have a few specific questions I hope you will answer for me. I have a mixed flock of 13 pullets and 9 cockerels, hatched in May. They're all faverolles. I'm in Indiana where we have mostly tolerable winters with an occasional Arctic blast (occasionally down to -10 F). I am told faverolles are cold hardy, but I'm concerned for my cockerels, who have very big combs (frostbite hazard). Sleeping situation is that most of the chickens pile in to one little corner about 2' square (I am still puzzled at their ability to compress themselves into that small space!). Three or four chickens use the roosting bars, which are 2x4x8 planks going across the width of the coop. The coop is very well ventilated and I make sure to keep a thick layer of dry pine shavings in the sleeping corner.

I can provide whatever they need to stay healthy. But what is best? Here are some options I'm considering.

I could get a long one of these to hang over the roosts. This seems the most direct way to warm the combs. I also have a couple of small EcoGlows that I could hang in a similar fashion over the sleeping pile.
https://www.mypetchicken.com/catalo...er-Coop-and-Brooder-Heater-4-sizes-p1556.aspx

This is cheaper, but I'm not sure it would be as effective at keeping the combs warm, just by virtue of the dimensions and vertical orientation.
https://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Chicken-Supplies/Cozy-Coop-Heater-with-mount-option-p2406.aspx

Next choice is the thermocube. I do want my chickens to become acclimated to the winter weather, so I only want to run this heater when it's dangerously cold. They make several temperature ranges, but not the "on at 10, off at 20" range I was hoping for. Should I get the "on at 0, off at 10", or is that too cold? What temperature range do you recommend? Is there another thermostat controlled outlet I should be looking at?

Thanks!!

 

[lazy gardener]

You really don't need any heat in your coop. What you do need is LOTS of ventilation: an area equal to 10% of floor space or 1 s.f./bird. This ventilation needs to be arranged so that the birds do not get their feathers ruffled when they are on the perch, or pig piled at night. I would assess your perch, and see if it meets their needs. It needs to be about 15" or more away from the back wall, 18" or more below ceiling, out of direct draft, and have enough space in front of it so they can easily glide down from the perch in the morning.

 

[Latestarter]

The biggest contributor to frostbitten combs/wattles is moisture. Moisture is the killer. Ventilation is your #1 solution to frostbite. Most folks just do not understand or comprehend the amount of moisture a chicken creates with breathing (and poop) in an enclosed area. In real cold weather, the poop freezes very quickly, but their breath is filled with moisture and is exhaled all right around their faces.

Adding supplementary heat to your coop is the worst thing you can do as it increases the amount of moisture present, thereby creating all sorts of problems.

Really cold air (like sub zero) can't hold much moisture. That's why you don't get snow when it's real cold out. When the temp is right around freezing, that's when you'll get the heaviest snow storms because that's when the air can hold the most moisture. Blizzards happen when you have warm moist air OVER real cold air.

When you have/expect temps below freezing, the best thing to do is to coat their combs, wattles, and even toes with an OIL BASED substance like Vaseline or Bag balm to keep the moisture off direct contact with skin. Just so you're aware, your hens can get frostbite damage as well.

IME/O, chickens lose toes to frostbite when the roosts are too small and they have to wrap their toes around to hold on, thus exposing them to the frigid air, and not being able to squat down and cover them with their feathers. Chickens aren't really designed to "perch"... their feet don't work that way. Even in trees, they are on THICK branches, not thin ones that they need to wrap their toes around.

 

[StrawberryMoon]

Thanks for the advice, Latestarter and Lazy Gardner! I do have great ventilation in my coop and my roosts are 4" wide to encourage flat feet and meet all the other criteria you mentioned. One chicken does like to roost on the skinny metal hanger for the nipple waterer. I'll have to figure out how to break that habit!

I just want to emphasize that I'm not talking about heating the coop. I'm talking about putting a warm surface in the coop. Very different things. I'll be very surprised if either of these heaters I linked to increase the moisture content in the coop. I would still love to hear some feedback on these two heater choices!

 

[Latestarter]

Ummmm... Let me try again...

I'm talking about putting a warm surface in the coop.

IS

Adding supplementary heat to your coop... (and it is the worst thing you can do)

I wasn't talking about heating the coop either.

You're asking about heaters that come on at ~zero degrees... Your chickens don't need added heat unless you expect prolonged periods with temps below -20 to -30°f. As long as they do not have any drafts that will ruffle their feathers, they will be able to handle temps to zero all winter long with no heat pad, heat source, warm spot, or anything of the sort.

I'd love to give you feedback on the heaters mentioned except I've never used one, and my chickens did fine during a week of -15 to -20°f nights.

 

[StrawberryMoon]

Ummmm... Let me try again...
IS
I wasn't talking about heating the coop either.

You're asking about heaters that come on at ~zero degrees... Your chickens don't need added heat unless you expect prolonged periods with temps below -20 to -30°f. As long as they do not have any drafts that will ruffle their feathers, they will be able to handle temps to zero all winter long with no heat pad, heat source, warm spot, or anything of the sort.

I'd love to give you feedback on the heaters mentioned except I've never used one, and my chickens did fine during a week of -15 to -20°f nights.

Ok that's great to know! But I did speak to my breeder and he told me he's seen frostbite on his roosters at 5 degrees, so that's why I am concerned. Also, our climates are different. My climate is highly variable. It was 50 today, and it'll be 10 next week. Does that make a difference? I've read that kind of climate is tougher for them to adapt to than one where it gets cold and stays cold. Thoughts?

 

[aart]

@StrawberryMoon please add your location to your profile.

Frostbite on large single comb tips is pretty inevitable,
most folks just accept it.
Using a heater to avoid it is not a popular technique and can be hard to apply effectively, and there are many legitimate cons to using a heater.
Either of those heaters might help,
but it's going to be hard to find someone who uses one to assist you in placing and operating/controlling it.
The worst comb frostbite I've seen happens at close to freezing, +/- a few degrees.
The worst wattle frostbite I've seen happens when they eat snow, thus dragging their wattles on the snow, on a very cold day.
Be patient, do some searching, look/ask in the really cold places chat threads like Alaska and Canada. There's a list in this post:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/find-your-states-thread.270925/

 

[StrawberryMoon]

@StrawberryMoon please add your location to your profile

Thank you! I'm in central Indiana, USA.

 

[aart]

Thank you! I'm in central Indiana, USA.

Here's show to add it to your profile; 1, 2, 3, then scroll down to 'save changes':